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Raven Software co-founder Brian Raffel has retired after 36 years, having worked on titles like Call of Duty, Star Wars, Star Trek, and Marvel. In separate news, Sony Interactive Entertainment has acquired Cinemersive Labs.
Brian Raffel, Co-Founder of Call of Duty Developer Raven Software, Retires After 36 Years at Studio
Brian Raffel, co-founder of Raven Software, is retiring after 36 years with the studio. Raven Software, known for its work on the Call of Duty franchise, also developed titles based on Star Wars, Star Trek, and Marvel properties during Raffel's tenure.
Call Of Duty: Black Ops 7 Free Trial Goes Live With 30+ Maps And Double XP
Activision is offering a free trial for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 until April 6, featuring over 30 multiplayer and Zombies maps, along with multiple game modes. The trial coincides with the launch of Season 3 and includes double XP bonuses. In related news, Raven Software co-founder Brian Raffel has retired after 36 years.
Co-Founder Of Call Of Duty Studio Raven Retires After 36 Years And 42 Games Released
Brian Raffel, co-founder of Call of Duty studio Raven Software, is retiring after 36 years and shipping 42 games. Founded in 1990, Raven Software initially developed titles like Black Crypt and Heretic before becoming heavily involved with the Call of Duty series starting with Call of Duty: Black Ops. Raffel's career spanned 18 Call of Duty titles and 12 original intellectual properties.
The Call of Duty schism: Why fans are trapped in a forever war with each other
The Call of Duty series is experiencing a significant schism among its player base, driven by creative differences between its primary development studios, Infinity Ward and Treyarch. This divide manifests in player preferences for distinct gameplay styles, such as Infinity Ward's grounded realism versus Treyarch's faster-paced, more experimental approach. The article examines how this long-standing conflict, exacerbated by Activision's demanding release schedule and studio roles, impacts the franchise's direction and player loyalty.
Forgotten FPS sequel Heretic 2 gets a 'reverse-engineered sourceport' that fixes bugs, improves the framerate and adds 'lots of cosmetic improvements'
A new sourceport for the 1998 third-person action-adventure game Heretic 2 has been released, offering bug fixes, improved framerates, and cosmetic enhancements. This unofficial release requires the original game data and aims to make the sequel more accessible on modern PCs. The article also speculates on a potential official rerelease given Microsoft's ownership of both Activision and id Software, who published the original titles.
CoD: Warzone's Black Ops Royale Gets A Highly Requested New Playlist
Raven Software is adding a highly requested solo playlist to Call of Duty: Warzone's Black Ops Royale mode on March 19. While the mode was originally designed for squads of four, adjustments will be made to accommodate single-player experiences. Recent updates have also tweaked spawn rates for various weapon types and items within the mode.
How Black Ops Royale is Reviving a Fan-Favorite Call of Duty Experience
Call of Duty: Warzone introduces Black Ops Royale, a new battle royale mode inspired by Call of Duty: Black Ops 4's Blackout. Available now on the Avalon map, it supports 100 players across 25 squads with no loadouts, buy stations, or Gulag, emphasizing scavenging for loot and upgrades. Game Director Pete Actipis discusses modernizing classic features and balancing the experience for both new and veteran players.
Black Ops Royale is more of a Treyarch-flavored Warzone than it is Blackout 2, but it’s still pretty fun Call of Duty
The new Black Ops Royale mode for Call of Duty: Warzone is now available, offering a faster-paced experience than the original Blackout mode. Developed by Treyarch in collaboration with Raven Software, the mode introduces new movement mechanics like wall-jumping and a wingsuit, alongside a revamped looting system that replaces traditional loadouts with upgradeable ground loot. While initially launching in Quads only, the mode aims to revitalize Warzone's gameplay loop.
CoD Warzone’s new Blackout-inspired mode has been in development for ‘about a year and a half’ in an effort to ‘shatter the stagnation’ of battle royale
Call of Duty: Warzone's new Black Ops Royale mode, inspired by the original Blackout, has been in development for about a year and a half. This mode aims to combat "stagnation" in the battle royale genre by introducing new mechanics and a focus on looting, while developers consider future integration of player purchases. The new map, Avalon, is also slated to eventually replace Verdansk.
How to play Black Ops Royale: Do you need Warzone or Black Ops 7?
Black Ops Royale is a new permanent mode within Call of Duty: Warzone, often referred to as Blackout 2.0. Players do not need to own a separate Call of Duty title to access this mode, as it is integrated directly into Warzone. This update aims to revitalize the battle royale experience within the Call of Duty franchise.
Black Ops Royale Is The Shake-Up That CoD: Warzone Needs
Call of Duty: Warzone has received a new "Black Ops Royale" mode, which aims to provide the futuristic Black Ops 7 experience that was missing from its initial integration. This mode draws inspiration from the original Blackout battle royale, featuring mechanics like grappling guns, wingsuits, and advanced movement on a new map called Avalon. Developers Pete Actipis and Yale Miller discussed the year-and-a-half development process, emphasizing the dual design of Avalon for both this mode and Call of Duty: Black Ops 7's Endgame mode.
Can you only play Black Ops Royale in a squad, or does it have solos?
Call of Duty: Black Ops Royale will launch exclusively with quad-sized squads, with no solo or trio modes available at release. Raven Software stated this decision was made because quads are the most popular squad size in Call of Duty: Warzone. The studio has acknowledged player feedback and indicated that additional squad sizes may be introduced post-launch if the mode proves successful.
First Call Of Duty: Warzone Black Ops Royale Gameplay Footage Is Full Of Blackout Nostalgia
New gameplay footage for Call of Duty: Warzone's upcoming Black Ops Royale mode showcases a return to the franchise's first battle royale, Blackout. The mode features nostalgic elements like grapple hooks, the Avalon map, and familiar sound effects. It also introduces new weapon and perk systems, with loadouts being replaced by archetypes and perks as consumables.
Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy (2003) The Classic Lightsaber Combat Sandbox
Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy, released in 2003 by Raven Software, is analyzed as a classic action sandbox game. It offered expanded lightsaber combat, player choice in Force abilities and missions, and a lasting multiplayer legacy.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (Campaign) Review
The campaign for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, developed by Raven Software and Treyarch, is a significant return to form for the series, offering engaging level design, mission variety, and a compelling narrative. It successfully blends traditional Call of Duty set pieces with more open exploration and introduces new mechanics like omni-movement without feeling gimmicky. Despite some issues with the Call of Duty HQ launcher, the overall experience is a strong, enjoyable single-player adventure.
GeForce NOW Enlists ‘Call of Duty: Black Ops 7’ for the Cloud
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is now available to stream on NVIDIA GeForce NOW, allowing play on various devices including underpowered laptops, Macs, and Steam Decks. The service also added 12 other games, including Anno 117: Pax Romana and Assetto Corsa Rally, with new RTX 5080-class hardware rolling out to more regions.
25 Best First-Person Shooters You Can’t Miss In 2026
This guide highlights 25 of the best first-person shooter games available, focusing on newer titles that are easily accessible and offer engaging experiences. It covers a range of FPS subgenres, from competitive multiplayer and immersive VR to single-player campaigns with deep stories and unique mechanics.
#7 Highly Compressed PC Games Under 50MB [Working!]
This article lists several classic PC games that are highly compressed and available in sizes under 50MB, focusing primarily on titles from the 1990s. It highlights games like Ultima Underworld 2, Heretic, DOOM, and Tomb Raider 2, noting their original release years and developers.
